Jeff Adams

Paul’s little letter to Titus puts a bit of emphasis on our need for good works as followers of Jesus Christ, using the word works six times in its three short chapters. The third chapter opens with Paul admonishing Titus to instruct his people about the need to submit to social order and to contribute to society through good works.

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. Titus 3:1

In my previous post I pointed out how some churches give the impression that they only know how to condemn and criticize. There are aspects of society that clearly need to be condemned! However, our social commentary will not be readily accepted if we make no positive contributions and are viewed merely as religious parasites.

Make no mistake about it, Paul is not saying that by good works we gain favor with God, salvation or forgiveness of sin.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Titus 3:5

He is saying, though, that we have a divine responsibility to be active participants in the society around us through our good works.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Titus 3:8

We are to do good works in society not as a hook for evangelism or for what we can gain. We should have no hidden agenda. The only agenda is that “these things are good and profitable unto men,” that is men in general, not just believers.

In the next verse Paul draws a striking contrast.

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus 3:9

Unfortunately, some Christians invest more time arguing with each other about things that make little difference in light of eternity. Not only that, these discussions have no profit even for this present life. They are empty arguments.

This morning we began the four week series on Reasonable Service rooted in this same phrase that Paul uses in Romans 12:1. Paul begs the Romans on the basis of God’s mercies to offer their bodies to him as their reasonable service.

Grace is receiving from God what we have in no way earned. Mercy is not receiving from God that which we have earned! In Romans 11 Paul shows how believers from both Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds have both been the objects of God’s mercy. It’s interesting that in this same context of good works in Titus 3:5 Paul again mentions our debt to God’s mercy. We give our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and represent him through good works in society not to gain something, but because of what we have already gained eternally through his grace and mercy.

I find it very gratifying that so many in our KCBT family have been doing such a good job of doing good things. Many have taken their turn preparing and serving food at the City Union Mission, distributing food and supplies to the homeless through the Salvation Army’s Honk and Holler, through working with great organizations such as City LINC and signing up to help paint the new middle school in Raytown next month.

Such good works in no way absolve us from our responsibility to verbally share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around us. But, doing our part to contribute to the greater community goes a long way to give credibility to our words when they really count. Me? I’m looking forward to manning a paint brush at 6:00pm on July 14th. Read about it and sign up here!